Chapter 19 Returning to the City
"Captain, I have something I'd like to say to you privately," Lin Yuanshu said in a low voice.
The captain paused for a moment, then pointed to the room and said, "Let's go inside and talk."
The two entered the room, and Lin Yuanshu didn't beat around the bush, directly telling them Director Tang's plan. Although the timing was still uncertain, the only certainty was that Director Tang would definitely carry out the plan, unless she didn't want her daughter to return to the city.
The brigade leader asked incredulously, "Are you serious? Tang Rong's mother will really provide technical assistance for the production team's factory construction? What are they after?"
Lin Yuanshu raised an eyebrow, not revealing Director Tang's ultimate goal. It was better to let them work things out on their own. After all, to get a spot for worker-peasant-soldier, one needed not only the brigade leader's approval but also the commune's consent.
She doesn't get involved in such troublesome matters; she's too busy with her own affairs to bother with other people's.
"To build a better new countryside, don't worry about their motives. Just know what benefits the production team can get from it. Make sure the villagers treat the educated youth well and don't let Tang Rong hate this place. I estimate that the people arranged by Tang Rong's mother will come to the production team in a few days. You need to treat them well then. That's all I can do to help," Lin Yuanshu whispered.
She was afraid that the team leader was short-sighted and didn't care about whether the factory could be built, thus pushing away the hard-won opportunity.
The brigade leader licked his lips and said solemnly, "I know what to do. I guarantee that I will show the enthusiasm, simplicity and positivity of the villagers in the production team."
He wasn't stupid; he knew how good it would be for them to build a factory. The production team two generations away had built an incense factory, and during the Spring Festival, everyone in the village, young and old, could receive dividends. The production team leader of that team was also getting attention from the commune cadres. It was said that in a few years, the production team leader of that team could be promoted to a cadre of the production brigade.
Lin Yuanshu is truly remarkable. Not only did she marry into the city, but she also brought hope to the production team. Cultured people are indeed different; it's always good for women to read more books.
"Then I'm relieved. Don't tell anyone about this until it's absolutely certain. You don't want any unexpected situations to arise, do you?" Lin Yuanshu could tell from the captain's expression that he had the factory construction on his mind.
“Okay,” the captain said without hesitation.
After the battalion commander and Lin Yuanshu left the room, the battalion commander looked at Tang Rong again, as if he were looking at a golden egg. He said kindly, "Comrade Tang Rong, have you eaten? Would you like to stay for dinner?"
Tang Rong smiled sheepishly, "I'll eat at Lin Yuanshu's house."
"If you have any difficulties, just come to me. I feel like we've known each other for a long time. Don't call me Captain anymore, just call me Uncle!" the Captain said in a serious tone.
Tang Rong smiled and called out, "Uncle."
The captain agreed without hesitation, "Yes."
Lin Yuanshu watched this scene with mixed feelings. Sure enough, whoever feeds you is your mother. This fawning attitude is too obvious!
Although the brigade leader's wife didn't know why the brigade leader was so good to Tang Rong, she liked to follow the script. Since her husband was so good to Tang Rong, there was no reason for her to ignore Tang Rong. So she chatted with Tang Rong enthusiastically.
Lin Yuanshu stayed at the brigade leader's house for a while. Seeing Tang Rong chatting with the brigade leader's family with a smile, she figured there wouldn't be any problems, so she left the brigade leader's house and returned to the Lin family.
Before, with Tang Rong around, Lin's parents didn't feel comfortable asking about Lin Yuanshu's life in the city. Now that there are no outsiders, they've started asking Lin Yuanshu about her life at her in-laws' house.
Lin Yuanshu avoided the main point and didn't talk much about her life at her husband's family home. Instead, she kept talking about how she was looking for a job, how her father-in-law was very supportive of her job search, and how she was going to have an interview at a chemical plant.
Upon hearing this, Lin's parents immediately stopped asking about Lin Yuanshu's life with her in-laws. After all, her job was more important. Lin Yuanshu might not be able to stay with her in-laws for the rest of her life, but she could work for the rest of her life. As long as she had money, she wouldn't be afraid of going hungry.
Around 3 p.m., Lin Yuanshu had to leave. If she didn't leave soon, she wouldn't be able to get back to the tenement building before sunset.
Although Lin's parents were reluctant to part with Lin Yuanshu, they did not try to persuade him to stay.
Lin's mother prepared a burlap sack full of vegetables for Lin Yuanshu, including cucumbers, green tomatoes, pumpkins, eggplants, and green beans.
"This is too much!" Lin Yuanshu exclaimed, carrying so much stuff was really tiring.
The original owner's parents were genuinely good to her. They didn't give her a dowry, purely because the family was poor and her father was in poor health, suffering from chronic illnesses. Most of the family's money was spent on her father.
Lin's father knew he was a burden, but he dared not leave this world, because if he left, there would truly be no man in the family.
Lin's mother patted Lin Yuanshu's head and whispered, "It's not much, it's not much. We lack everything at home except vegetables. Life isn't easy for you in the city, you need to buy everything. Save money, and your in-laws will like you more. There are also twenty eggs here. Hide them secretly and eat them secretly. They'll help you and your husband get better. Don't be silly and give them to your mother-in-law. You might not even get to eat them..."
Lin Yuanshu looked at his mother with some emotion, then hugged her tightly and whispered, "Thank you, Mom."
Lin's mother waved her hand dismissively, "You're my daughter, why are you being so polite! I want you to be doing well more than anyone else."
Lin Yuanfeng helped Lin Yuanshu load the vegetables onto the mule cart. Just as they were about to leave, Sun Yiyi's family rushed over in a panic and asked loudly, "Xiaoshu, why hasn't my Yiyi come back?"
Lin Yuanshu was taken aback for a moment, then said helplessly, "I don't know what Comrade Sun Yiyi is thinking. Maybe she can't get away!"
Grandma Sun looked displeased and muttered to herself, "It's one thing for her not to come home, but she won't even let you bring anything home. She's so unfilial! Raising a daughter is definitely not worth it; she's biased towards outsiders, like she's being raised for someone else..."
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